LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 3 2011) -- The University of Kentucky College of Public Health’s Office of Workforce Development has received a national award for a project that aims to improve emergency response across Kentucky.

The Kentucky Public Health Leadership Institute (KPHLI) project, “Point of Dispensing Standard Operating Guidelines Template and POD Pocket,” has been chosen as a runner-up for the Balderson Leadership Project Award, given annually by the National Public Health Leadership Development Network (NLN).

The award recognizes individuals and teams participating in public health leadership institutes nationwide. The KPHLI team worked on creating Standardized POD Guidelines, a smart phone application for emergency situations that aims to make disaster/terrorism dispensing plans uniform across Kentucky counties, improving the consistency of information and its distribution.

“The exemplary work this team demonstrates the effectiveness of solving complex public health problems using systems thinking methods taught in the institute,” said Cynthia D. Lamberth, director of KPHLI. “This team’s product has won national recognition both through this award, and the knowledge that the project is being adopted by at least one other state.”

KPHLI team members who developed the project are: Srihari Seshadri, senior epidemiologist with the Barren River District Health Department, and five staff members from the Lake Cumberland District Health Department: Jonathan Dye, senior health environmentalist; Jessica Gover, public health preparedness coordinator; Jane Jones, public health preparedness coordinator; and Jarrod Simpson, health environmentalist.

The national award was created in honor of Tom Balderson, who was instrumental in the creation of an extensive network of state, regional and national public health leadership institutes. This year’s award marks the 13th time KPHLI has been recognized with a Balderson Award – more than any other institute in the country.

Funded by the Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH), KPHLI is one of 35 leadership institutes located throughout the United States. Graduation from the Institute requires completion of a Change Master Team Project that addresses a public health issue or problem.

Since the founding of KPHLI in 2000, more than 430 scholars have developed their public health leadership skills through completion of the year-long curriculum. KPHLI serves as a catalyst for change for both leaders and public health entities within the state.

The team will present its project accomplishments and findings in November to a national audience during an NLN-sponsored webinar session for its members, Public Health Leadership Society members and current and past fellows/scholars of leadership institutes.